Squirrels Score Early, Top Senators on Saturday Night

April 20, 2024 - Eastern League (EL)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Richmond Flying Squirrels pulled ahead in the first inning and pulled away in the second to beat the Harrisburg Senators, 6-1, on Saturday night at FNB Field.

The Flying Squirrels (6-8) held the Senators (6-7) to three hits in the game and held them scoreless until the eighth inning.

In the top of the first, Grant McCray led off with a double and crossed home on a single by Hunter Bishop.

Vaun Brown reached on a single to start the second inning and scored from first on an RBI double by Brett Auerbach.

Two batters later, McCray hit a three-run homer to extend the Flying Squirrels' lead to 5-0 against Senators starter Brad Lord (Loss, 0-1).

In the sixth, Auerbach led off with a triple and scored on a groundout by Damon Dues to open a 6-0 lead.

Hayden Birdsong started for the Flying Squirrels and allowed one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts but also set a new career high with five walks. Nick Swiney (Win, 2-0) replaced him in the fourth and stranded a runner on base, finishing his day with 1.2 scoreless innings.

Reggie Crawford made his second Double-A appearance and worked through the sixth and seventh innings with three strikeouts, working around one walk.

The Senators broke the shutout in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI single by Yohandy Morales.

In the ninth, the Senators loaded the bases with one out on two walks and an error, but Tyler Myrick (Save, 1) entered out of the bullpen and closed out the game with a strikeout and a flyout.

The Flying Squirrels and Senators wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander John Michael Bertrand (0-0, 3.00) will be on the mound for Richmond countered by Harrisburg right-hander Kyle Luckham (0-0, 1.80). First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at FNB Field.

Following this week's road trip, the Flying Squirrels return to The Diamond for a six-game series against the Bowie Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Tickets are on sale online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-3866 (FUNN) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.

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